Back to EveryPatent.com
United States Patent |
5,054,231
|
Witherspoon
|
October 8, 1991
|
Fire ant eradication apparatus and method
Abstract
A method for eradicating fire ants includes connecting a supply of
pressurized water to a dispenser handle, forcing water or a water and
insecticide mixture out a vertical probe to drench the top of the fire ant
mound, slowly inserting the probe into the fire ant mound with the water
or water and insecticide mixture flowing, and then slowly pulling the
probe out of the mound while flooding the mound with the water and
insecticide mixture. A dispenser for accomplishing the method includes a
handle that may be attached to a source of pressurized water, a bottle
attached to the handle containing insecticide, a vertical probe attached
to the handle for injecting water and insecticide into a fire ant mound, a
conduit to allow water to pass from the pressurized source through the
handle and out the probe, and a means of aspirating insecticide into the
water flowing through the handle and the probe.
Inventors:
|
Witherspoon; Phynus R. (114 N. Polk, DeSoto, TX 75115)
|
Appl. No.:
|
407234 |
Filed:
|
September 14, 1989 |
Current U.S. Class: |
43/124; 43/130; 43/132.1; 43/900 |
Intern'l Class: |
A01M 001/20; A01M 007/00 |
Field of Search: |
43/124,900,132.1,130
111/7.1
137/891
239/3,271,318,379
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
2306165 | Dec., 1942 | Irish | 111/7.
|
2761734 | Jun., 1955 | Farmer.
| |
2893334 | Jul., 1959 | Snyder | 111/7.
|
3122325 | May., 1962 | Mahrt et al.
| |
3303800 | Mar., 1964 | Young.
| |
3770205 | Nov., 1973 | Proctor et al.
| |
3894662 | Jul., 1975 | Eddy et al.
| |
3940069 | Feb., 1976 | Gunzel, Jr. et al.
| |
3964689 | Jun., 1976 | Horvath, Jr.
| |
4005976 | Feb., 1977 | Rombach et al.
| |
4160336 | Jul., 1979 | Query et al.
| |
4349157 | Sep., 1982 | Beiswenger et al.
| |
4491254 | Jan., 1985 | Viets et al.
| |
Other References
Ross Root Feeders Advertisements.
Gilmour Foamaster Product Information.
Miracle-Gro Product Information.
Ortho Technical Bulletin No. 137 (Revised).
Ortho Product Bulletins: (1) All Purpose Lawn Garden Hose and Sprayer; (2)
Dial'n Spray; (3) Spray-ette 4; (4) Lawn Sprayer; (5) Tree & Shrub
Spray-ette; (6) Weed Killer Sprayer.
Texas Department of Agriculture Imported Fire Ant Control Techniques.
|
Primary Examiner: Rowan; Kurt
Claims
I claim:
1. A dispenser for killing fire ants comprising:
a handle having a first end, a second end and a middle portion;
a threaded connection on the first end of the handle for connecting the
dispenser to a supply of pressurized water;
a bottle threadedly connected to the second end of the handle for holding a
supply of fire ant insecticide;
a probe connected to the middle portion of the handle at an angle of
approximately 90.degree. in relation to the first end of the handle;
a conduit extending from the first end through at least part of the middle
portion of the handle and through the entire probe for passing water from
the supply of water to the probe;
means for aspirating insecticide from the bottle into the conduit under the
influence of water passing through the conduit; and
a valve for controlling the flow of water through the conduit and the
aspiration of insecticide into the conduit.
2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the valve includes a first position for
stopping the flow of water and a second position for passing water through
the conduit, and aspirating insecticide into the water flow.
3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the valve includes a first position for
stopping the flow of water, a second position for passing water through
the conduit, and a third position for aspirating insecticide into the
water flow.
4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the means for aspirating insecticide
includes a venturi tube in the conduit.
5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the means for aspirating insecticide
comprises a tube connected to the handle at one end and extending into the
bottle and a screen and check valve at the other end of the tube.
6. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a check valve mounted in the
first end of the handle to prevent the flow of water or insecticide toward
the supply of pressurized water.
7. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a check valve mounted in the
first end of the handle to prevent the flow of water or insecticide toward
the supply of pressurized water.
8. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the handle further comprises a means
for regulating the amount of water flowing through the conduit.
9. An apparatus for use in killing fire ants comprising:
a handle having a first end, a second end, and a middle portion;
means for connecting the first end of the handle to a supply of pressurized
water;
a source of fire ant insecticide attached to the second end of the handle;
a probe connected to the middle portion of the handle at an angle of
approximately 90.degree. in relation to the first end of the handle;
a conduit through the handle for passing water from the supply of water to
the probe; and
means for mixing insecticide with the water passing through the conduit.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the conduit extends from the first end
of the handle through at least a portion of the middle portion of the
handle and through the entire probe.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the source of insecticide comprises a
bottle attached to the handle.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for mixing insecticide
comprises a means for aspirating insecticide from the source and into the
conduit under the influence of the water passing through the conduit.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for controlling the
proportion of insecticide mixed with the water.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for insect control
and specifically for eradication of the various species of imported South
American fire ant.
The imported fire ant has been a destructive pest in the United States for
decades. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,118 to Evans, the imported
fire ant has caused significant destruction throughout large portions of
the United States and is eventually expected to inhabit most of the United
States. Common fire ant mounds are two to four feet deep in most parts of
the United States, but as described in the '118 patent, a fire ant mound
may extend twenty feet beneath the surface, with lateral tunnels extending
75 feet outward. One mound may contain 300,000 individual ants.
The fire ant is an intensely defensive creature that is difficult to
eradicate. Disturbing a fire ant mound usually causes the colony to attack
the source of the disturbance. Each ant bite leaves a small welt or sore
on the victim and thus an attack by a horde of ants can be extremely
painful. The colony can be evacuated quickly and the ants protect the
queens in each colony. In fact, most experts counsel against any type of
subsurface attack on a fire ant mound because the ants will escape or
attack the intruder.
Numerous methods of controlling the ant have been devised. Some methods
involve topically applying a mixture of several gallons of water and a
fire ant poison to drench the mound. Other methods involve sprinkling
granular poison onto the mound and drenching the mound with water.
Unfortunately, because of the extensive nature of the mounds, the topical
application of poisons frequently is not effective to destroy the entire
fire ant mound and thus queens from the colony may escape to establish new
fire ant colonies.
Other methods developed thus far include products that may be injected into
the fire ant mound. For instance, the '118 patent to Evans describes an
apparatus that injects intense heat, vapors, insecticides and even steam
directly into the mound. U.S. Pat. No. 4,160,336 to Query describes
injecting an insecticide and a refrigerant into the fire ant mounds.
These injection techniques involve expensive, often dangerous equipment
that typically may only be used by professionals. The injection products
described by the Texas Department of Agriculture are available to ordinary
consumers but are very expensive. Home owners typically have been required
to use the only partially effective topical application techniques. As a
result, there is an intense demand for some method that effectively
controls fire ants without the dangers and expense inherent in prior
devices so that home owners and other amateurs may safely combat the
pests.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a relatively simple and inexpensive
dispenser for injecting insecticide into fire ant mounds to kill fire ant
colonies. The dispenser design permits deep, sub-surface penetration of a
water and insecticide mixture into a fire ant mound that floods the entire
mound and kills the fire ant colony without the expense or danger
associated with earlier fire ant control apparatus. Rather than employing
a high pressure, high temperature apparatus, the dispenser holds
insecticide that is aspirated into water flowing under household pressure
and is injected by the water pressure through an attached probe deep into
the fire ant mound.
More specifically, the dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention may be attached on one end to a garden hose and on the other end
to bottle of insecticide so that any ordinary homeowner may use the
dispenser. Water from the hose passes through the dispenser and into a
probe attached to the middle of the dispenser handle and extending two or
three feet vertically downward from the handle. A venturi in the handle
causes the flowing water to aspirate insecticide from the bottle into the
flowing water so that a mixture of water and insecticide flows out of the
probe. The handle has a valve to control the flow of water and insecticide
through the dispenser.
According to the method of the present invention, the probe is inserted
deep into a fire ant mound with water and insecticide flowing out of the
probe and, as the probe is slowly withdrawn from the mound, the entire
mound is flooded with insecticide and water to kill the fire ants. More
specifically, the water/insecticide mixture flowing out of the probe is
first dispensed over the external surface of the mound to kill any fire
ants active on the surface or immediately below the surface and to loosen
and soften the dirt in the mound so that the probe may be pushed deep into
the mound. The probe is then slowly withdrawn from the mound, pumping
water and insecticide deep inside the fire ant mount and flooding the
tunnels of the mound to kill the queens and other ants throughout the
mound. The flowing water facilitates insertion of the probe into the mound
and also assists in dispersion of the insecticide throughout the mound.
The simple dispenser and method of the present invention permit an average
home owner to use the device. No hot gasses, explosives, or expensive,
special equipment is required. The insecticide may be a readily available
chemical that is safe for non-professional use. Therefore, the dispenser
may be used by many people without significant training or expense.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the
following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser of the present invention
being used on a fire ant mound, with the outline of a person in broken
lines;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a partial top view of the handle of the dispenser shown in FIG.
2; and
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the dispenser
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in the drawings, the present invention is embodied in a dispenser
10 that is used to eradicate fire ants in a fire ant mound 11. The
dispenser comprises a handle 12, a bottle 13 for holding insecticide, and
a probe 14 extending vertically down from the handle. A user 15 connects
the handle to a hose 17 or other source of pressurized water to use the
dispenser.
According to the method of the present invention, the dispenser injects a
mixture of water and insecticide through the probe and deep into the fire
ant mound 11 to flood the tunnels in the mound with insecticide and kill
the ants in the mound. Preferably, a mixture of water and insecticide is
pumped down through the probe 14 and is applied to the surface of the fire
ant mound, killing any ants on the surface and driving the sub-surface
ants deeper into the mound to congregate in a relatively limited area for
easier treatment with insecticide. The pressurized water from the probe
softens the soil and clears a path beneath the ground for the insertion of
the probe and also insures dispersal of the insecticide throughout the
mound.
The probe 14 is inserted into the softened soil with the water flowing to
permit the user 15 to flood the entire mound 11 and all branching tunnels
with the water and insecticide mixture. The long probe enables the user to
penetrate the depth of the mound, guaranteeing treatment of all the ants
and particularly killing of the queens in a relatively short time to
eliminate the possibility of excape by fire ants and particularly by
queens. Pressure and insecticide are used, but neither is of such
intensity or strength as to prevent use of the device by
non-professionals.
The hose 17 is attached to a first end 18 of the handle 12, the bottle 13
is attached to a second end 19 of the handle, and the probe 14 is attached
in the middle portion of the handle and extends vertically down from the
handle. A conduit 20 extends from the first end of the handle into and
entirely through the probe so that water from the hose passes through the
conduit and out the end of the probe. A tube 21 extends into the bottle 13
and is connected by a passageway 22 through a valve 23 to a small venturi
24 in the conduit. The venturi is used to aspirate insecticide from the
bottle into the conduit.
The valve 23 is mounted on the top of the handle 12. According to a
preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve has two settings, an
"off" position to stop the flow of water and a "chemical" position to open
the flow of water and insecticide. When in the "off" position, the valve
prevents water from flowing through the conduit. When the valve is in the
"chemical" position, the passageway 22 and the venturi 24 are connected so
that water flowing through the conduit 20 aspirates insecticide 25 from
the bottle 13, through the tube 21 and passageway and into the venturi to
mix with the water. The mixture of water and insecticide is then injected
into the fire ant mound 11 through the probe 14. The valve preferably
eliminates the need for premixing the insecticide with the water because
the amount of insecticide aspirated per unit of water may be controlled by
the design of the valve and the aspirating tube.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the valve 23 has three
positions, a first "off" position, a second, "water" position, and a
third, "chemical" position. When in the "water" position, only water from
the hose flows through the conduit. The three-position valve has the
potential of saving insecticide during the pre-wetting stage of the
treatment. However, in view of the small amount of insecticide that is
usually saved, and in view of the fact that it is believed to be best
constantly to apply insecticide with the water, the three-position valve
presently is not the preferred embodiment.
The handle 12 preferably contains two safety valves. A first, anti-siphon
check valve 26 comprises a ball bearing mounted in the first end 18 of the
handle 12. The anti-siphon valve prevents back pressure such as might be
caused by a clog in the probe 14 from forcing insecticide into the hose
17. Such back pressure causes the ball bearing to seat against a seal in
the end of the handle to prevent the insecticide/water mixture from
entering the hose.
A second check valve 27 is preferably mounted in the end of the tube 21 in
the bottle 13. The second check valve includes a small ball bearing that,
under the influence of back pressure, seats against the end of the tube.
This check valve prevents back pressure from forcing water into the
bottle, thereby diluting the insecticide and perhaps even rupturing the
bottle. As depicted in FIG. 2, a screen 28 may be attached to the tube 21
to prevent particulates from entering the tube and clogging the passageway
22.
In another embodiment of the invention, the handle 12 of the dispenser 10
includes a lever arm to control the flow of water. The lever arm is
similar in concept and design to those known in the art that may be
attached to garden hoses. The user is able to vary the water pressure by
using varying the pressure on the lever.
The handle may be made of many materials but plastic is preferred. The
bottle is preferably made of clear or translucent plastic. The probe may
be of any appropriate length but a three foot probe is a good length to
penetrate most mounds because most mounds are two to four feet deep. If
the probe is slightly too short, the water and insecticide will still seep
down into the depths of the fire ant mound and thereby kill fire ants. For
deeper mounds, a longer probe may be required, so that the end of the
inserted probe reaches deep enough into the mound to insure flooding of
the entire mound.
Preferably, the probe is 1/4 inch galvanized steel water pipe having an
open end. In some circumstances, a probe having a conical, steel end with
openings along the side of the probe to permit the water to exit may also
be used. However, such a probe frequently does not have the water pressure
necessary to drive the probe into compacted ground.
Although one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and
described, various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled
in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Top